British ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore, noting that foreigners were among the victims of Istanbul attack, urged British nationals in the city to let their families know they were safe, ABC News reported on Sunday.

Turkish police are hunting for an assailant who — reportedly dressed as Santa Claus — opened fire at a crowded Istanbul nightclub during New Year's celebrations Sunday, killing at least 39 people and wounding close to 70 others in what authorities said was a terror attack.

The attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside Istanbul's popular Reina club at around 1:15 a.m. before entering and firing on people partying inside, Gov. Vasip Sahin said. He did not say who may have carried out the attack.

Source: MENA